Phalsa

Grewia asiatica

Beng / Hindi: Phalsa

A small tree, or a large straggling shrub, coarse haired leaves are roundish with pointed tip with toothed margins on a short stalk. Young leaves are often pink or reddish in color.

Bark: Rough, greyish white to brown

Leaf:  2-7’’, round in outline, with a short pointy tip. Young leaves are pink to reddish.

Flowers: Less than 1’’ in diameter, yellow or orange, borne in numerous small clusters in the axils of the leaves.

Fruit: Red or purple edible berry about the size of a pea, thinly covered with long fine hairs, contains one or two seeds

Season: The flowers appear in March or April together with the new leaves. The fruits ripen soon after.

Range/habitat: Considers a native of northwest India but cultivated extensively for its acidic fruit which is mostly made into sherbet.  

Where to Find: a couple of trees near the entrance of Andersen club in Rabindra Sarobar, Kolkata ( 22.5134,88.3652 ). Also, a number of them in the Miyawaki forest plantation in the Southwest side.